Barbara Potter

Barbara Potter (born October 22, 1961) is a former tennis player from the United States, who competed professionally on the WTA Tour between 1978 and 1989, winning six singles titles and 19 doubles titles. Her highest singles ranking was No. 7 in December 1982.

Career

Potter started playing tennis when she was eight years old. After graduating from Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut in 1978 Potter elected to turn professional instead of accepting an offer of admission at Princeton. A left-hander, she reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open in 1981 as well as the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in 1984, and Wimbledon in 1982, 1983 and 1985. At the WTA Tour Championships, she reached the semifinals in singles in 1984 and was a runner-up in doubles with Sharon Walsh in 1981.

Potter reached a career high ranking of No. 7 in 1982 and that year won the singles titles at the Avon Championships of Cincinnati and the US Indoor Championships. She also played in three Grand Slam doubles finals, the 1982 US Open women's doubles with Sharon Walsh as well as the 1982 and 1983 US Open mixed doubles with Ferdi Taygan.

In 1986, Potter suffered two herniated disks in her back at a tournament in England and was forced off the tour several times. After a grueling exercise and fitness program, she successfully returned to the tour.

She was a member of the 1982 and 1984 U.S. Wightman Cup teams and the 1988 United States Fed Cup team. In 1989, she re-aggravated a persistent back condition at the beginning season when she was involved in an automobile accident. She retired in November 1989 due to deteriorating hip cartilage.

Potter currently resides in Harlem, Georgia.

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Women's doubles (1 runner–up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1982	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Anne Smith	6–4, 6–4

Mixed doubles (2 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1982	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Ferdi Taygan	Template:Flagicon Anne Smith Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5)
Loss	1983	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Ferdi Taygan	Template:Flagicon Elizabeth Sayers Template:Flagicon John Fitzgerald	3–6, 6–3, 6–4

Year-End Championships finals

Doubles: (1 runner–up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1981	New York City	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Martina Navrátilová Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	6–0, 7–6(8–6)

WTA career finals

Singles: 14 (6–8)

Winner — Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–0) WTA Tour Championships (0–0) Tier I (0–0) Tier II (0–0) Tier III (1–0) Tier IV (0–1) Tier V (0–1) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (5–6)

Titles by surface Hard (2–2) Grass (0–1) Clay (0–0) Carpet (4–5)

Result	W/L	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1.	Jan 1979	Toronto, Canada	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Bettina Bunge	6–1, 6–4
Loss	1.	Jan 1980	Las Vegas, US	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Andrea Jaeger	6–7, 6–4, 1–6
Loss	2.	Feb 1981	Seattle, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sylvia Hanika	2–6, 4–6
Win	2.	Jan 1982	Cincinnati, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Bettina Bunge	6–2, 7–6(7–3)
Loss	3.	Feb 1982	Kansas City, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova	2–6, 2–6
Loss	4.	Sep 1982	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Bettina Bunge	6–7(4–7), 2–6
Win	3.	Sep 1982	Philadelphia, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	6–4, 6–2
Loss	5.	Feb 1984	Chicago, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	6–7(4–7), 6–2, 3–6
Win	4.	Aug 1985	Monticello, US	Hard	Template:Flagicon Helen Kelesi	4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Win	5.	Feb 1987	Wichita, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Larisa Savchenko	7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–5)
Loss	6.	Mar 1987	Washington, US	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Hana Mandlíková	4–6, 2–6
Loss	7.	Jul 1988	Newport, US	Grass	Template:Flagicon Lori McNeil	4–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win	6.	Aug 1988	Cincinnati, US	Hard	Template:Flagicon Helen Kelesi	6–2, 6–2
Loss	8.	Feb 1989	Wichita, US	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Amy Frazier	6–4, 4–6, 0–6

Doubles: 41 (19–22)

Winner — Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–1) WTA Tour Championships (0–1) Tier I (0–0) Tier II (0–0) Tier III (0–0) Tier IV (1–0) Tier V (0–0) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (18–20)

Titles by surface Hard (3–5) Grass (3–0) Clay (1–1) Carpet (12–16)

Result	W/L	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1.	Aug 1978	Mahwah	Hard	Template:Flagicon Pam Whytcross	Template:Flagicon Ilana Kloss Template:Flagicon Marise Kruger	3–6, 4–6
Win	1.	Jan 1980	Las Vegas	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Kay McDaniel	Template:Flagicon Diane Desfor Template:Flagicon Barbara Jordan	4–5, 7–6, 6–4
Win	2.	Sep 1980	Atlanta	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Anne Smith	6–3, 6–1
Win	3.	Dec 1980	Tucson	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Leslie Allen	Template:Flagicon Mary-Lou Piatek Template:Flagicon Wendy White	7–6, 6–0
Win	4.	Jan 1981	Kansas City	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	6–2, 7–6(7–4)
Loss	2.	Jan 1981	Chicago	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Martina Navrátilová Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	3–6, 4–6
Win	5.	Mar 1981	Boston	Carpet (Ii)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon JoAnne Russell Template:Flagicon Virginia Ruzici	6–7, 6–4, 6–3
Loss	3.	Mar 1981	Avon Championships	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Martina Navrátilová Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	0–6, 6–7(6–8)
Loss	4.	May 1981	Tokyo	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Sue Barker Template:Flagicon Ann Kiyomura	5–7, 2–6
Win	6.	Oct 1981	Brighton	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Anne Smith	Template:Flagicon Mima Jaušovec Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	6–7, 6–3, 6–4
Loss	5.	Oct 1981	Filderstadt	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Anne Smith	Template:Flagicon Mima Jaušovec Template:Flagicon Martina Navrátilová	4–6, 1–6
Win	7.	Nov 1981	Perth	Grass	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Betsy Nagelsen Template:Flagicon Candy Reynolds	6–4, 6–2
Win	8.	Feb 1982	Kansas City	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Mary-Lou Piatek Template:Flagicon Anne Smith	4–6, 6–2, 6–2
Win	9.	Feb 1982	Oakland	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	6–1, 3–6, 7–6(7–5)
Loss	6.	Mar 1982	Los Angeles	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Anne Smith	3–6, 5–7
Loss	7.	Apr 1982	Amelia Island	Clay	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Leslie Allen Template:Flagicon Mima Jaušovec	1–6, 5–7
Loss	8.	Aug 1982	Montreal	Hard	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova Template:Flagicon Candy Reynolds	4–6, 4–6
Win	10.	Aug 1982	Mahwah	Hard	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	6–1, 6–4
Loss	9.	Aug 1982	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	4–6, 4–6
Loss	10.	Sep 1982	Philadelphia	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	6–3, 6–7(5–7), 4–6
Win	11.	Oct 1982	Deerfield Beach	Hard	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–3)
Loss	11.	Oct 1982	Brighton	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	6–2, 5–7, 4–6
Loss	12.	Jan 1983	Houston	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Jo Durie	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	4–6, 3–6
Win	12.	Jan 1983	Palm Beach Garden	Clay	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Paula Smith	6–4, 4–6, 6–2
Win	13.	Jul 1983	Newport	Grass	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Barbara Jordan Template:Flagicon Elizabeth Sayers	6–3, 6–1
Loss	13.	Sep 1983	Richmond	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan	Template:Flagicon Rosalyn Fairbank Template:Flagicon Candy Reynolds	7–6(7–3), 2–6, 1–6
Loss	14.	Sep 1983	Hartford	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan	Template:Flagicon Billie Jean King Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Win	14.	Oct 1983	Detroit	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan	Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	6–4, 6–1
Win	15.	Jan 1984	Washington	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Leslie Allen Template:Flagicon Anne White	6–1, 6–7(7–9), 6–2
Loss	15.	Jan 1984	Houston	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Mima Jaušovec Template:Flagicon Anne White	4–6, 6–3, 6–7(4–7)
Loss	16.	Feb 1984	Chicago	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	Template:Flagicon Billie Jean King Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	7–5, 3–6, 3–6
Win	16.	Mar 1984	Boston	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Andrea Leand Template:Flagicon Mary-Lou Piatek	7–6(7–4), 6–0
Loss	17.	Sep 1984	Fort Lauderdale	Hard	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova Template:Flagicon Elizabeth Sayers	6–2, 2–6, 3–6
Loss	18.	Oct 1984	Brighton	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Alycia Moulton Template:Flagicon Paula Smith	7–6, 3–6, 5–7
Win	17.	Mar 1985	Dallas	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Marcella Mesker Template:Flagicon Pascale Paradis	5–7, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
Loss	19.	May 1985	Sydney	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver Template:Flagicon Elizabeth Smylie	5–7, 5–7
Loss	20.	Oct 1985	Brighton	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Helena Suková	Template:Flagicon Lori McNeil Template:Flagicon Catherine Suire	6–4, 6–7(3–7), 4–6
Loss	21.	Jan 1986	Key Biscayne	Hard	Template:Flagicon Betsy Nagelsen	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Elizabeth Smylie	6–7(5–7), 6–2, 2–6
Win	18.	Mar 1986	Nashville	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Pam Shriver	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Elizabeth Smylie	6–4, 6–3
Loss	22.	Feb 1987	Wichita	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Wendy White	Template:Flagicon Svetlana Parkhomenko Template:Flagicon Larisa Savchenko	2–6, 4–6
Win	19.	Jul 1988	Newport	Grass	Template:Flagicon Rosalyn Fairbank	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Lori McNeil	6–4, 6–3

Grand Slam performance timelines

Singles

Tournament	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	Career SR
Australian Open	A	A	A	2R	3R	3R	QF	2R	NH	A	4R	1R	0 / 7
French Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	1R	A	A	A	A	0 / 1
Wimbledon	2R	1R	3R	4R	QF	QF	4R	QF	A	2R	4R	A	0 / 10
U.S. Open	2R	3R	3R	SF	2R	2R	4R	2R	A	1R	4R	A	0 / 10
SR	0 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 4	0 / 0	0 / 2	0 / 3	0 / 1	0 / 28
Year End Ranking	62	47	25	10	8	23	12	17	26	12	10	105

Doubles

Tournament	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	Career SR
Australian Open	A	A	A	QF	SF	SF	SF	SF	NH	A	SF	1R	0 / 7
French Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 0
Wimbledon	2R	2R	1R	QF	2R	SF	SF	QF	A	A	2R	2R	0 / 10
U.S. Open	A	A	A	1R	F	A	QF	QF	A	2R	1R	A	0 / 6
SR	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 2	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 3	0 / 2	0 / 23
Year End Ranking							3	9	25	26	51	356

External links

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• Template:ITF
• Template:Fed Cup player